Former Wilson star Lenehan throws winning TD pass in National Bowl

Everyone hopes an all-star game will come down to the final play as the buzzer sounds. In the second annual National Bowl Game at J. Birney Crum Stadium, pitting stars from smaller Division I schools and Division II and Division III schools, the finish was just that.

Blue Nation quarterback DJ Lenehan, a former Wilson High star now at Seton Hill University, heard the buzzer sound as he was scrambling to his right. He saw Jesse Hubbard (Upper Iowa University) waving his hand in the end zone and hit him with a touchdown pass for a 34-31 victory.

"We knew going on the field (for the last drive) that we weren't coming off," Lenehan said. "Coach told us we were going to give them the 'L' and we were going to get the 'W.' It was fate. It was God. We put everything into this game on the last drive. All of us on the Blue squad did it together. I heard the buzzer and I just threw it to the back line. Someone answered our payers."

The winning drive took the monkey off the back of one of the local players, Chris Medina from Kutztown. On the Red team's previous drive, Medina went offside on a fourth-and-two form the 18-yard line, giving the Red the first down and continuing their drive. The Red finished it off with a 12-yard touchdown strike from Cody Haffly (Wingate University) to Joe Leach (University of Indianapolis) for a 31-27 lead.

"When I got the offsides [penalty], I knew what was going to happen," Medina said. "I honestly thought it cost us the game. Thank God for the quarterback we had … he … won the game for us. I was pretty upset. I was angry and ready to go full-speed to do what I had to do, get to the quarterback. I'm too adapted to the inside game. But if I can play outside again, I'll go wherever God wants me to go."

Medina also plays for the Lehigh Valley Steelers, as did Quinten Lopez, from the Red squad, who pulled down an interception that led to a Red score.

Helping on the final Red drive was Lafayette tight end Kevin Doty. Doty caught a 23-yard pass from Haffly.

"The game was somewhat what I expected," Doty said. "I found the level of competition better than I thought it was going to be, which was good. I was impressed with the quarterbacks. They are Division III, but they are Division I caliber. I was impressed with how well-organized the whole event was. It was a lot of fun."

"The catch was fun," Doty continued. "It was tipped, once or twice. The ball wasn't coming hot. He tipped it and I reacted to it. It wasn't as tough losing today (as in the regular season) because it's an all-star game."

Francis Hall (Albright) said the game was enjoyable. "It was a physical game," he said. "I like that. I played defensive end today. It was a great experience. When I got the invite I thought, what the heck, I'll try it."

Hall was talking with a scout form the Reading Express after the game, so his career may last a bit longer.

National Bowl organizer Mike Quartley said he felt the game was perfect, the weather was perfect, and he couldn't have asked for a better day.

"The players just played their best and played their hearts out," he said. "Last year the game was a lot smaller. We double in size and we hope to double in size again next year. Kids came from as far away as Texas and Arizona and Colorado and they pay their own expenses. Sometimes it's better that way."